Balloon by Bruce Handy, illustrated by Julie Kwon (Chronicle Books, 44 pages, ages 3-7). A young child is devastated when a flock of pigeons causes him to let go of his orange balloon. Refusing a replacement, he goes on a search for the balloon through the city park. Illustrations show different objects that appear to be the balloon–a bit of an orange frisbee hidden by a picnic blanket, an orange cap on the head of a musician obscured by a crowd–but when the full picture is revealed, it’s never the balloon. Finally, the boy spots something else orange: a kitten for sale. He and his mom adopt the kitten, and the boy tells it, “Balloon. That’s your name.” As the two sleep together on the last page, astute readers will notice the tiny shadow of a balloon against the full moon. Includes an author’s note that tells how the story was inspired by his son, who also named his cat after a lost balloon.
This nearly wordless book is so much fun, giving kids an opportunity to guess what the various orange objects are and to spot the squirrel that enlivens many of the illustrations. The final page provides a most satisfying conclusion, not only with the boy and his new kitten, but the balloon in the background and a stuffed squirrel sitting on a bookcase.
I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich, illustrated by Chris Raschka (Anne Schwartz Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). Neveah enjoys the four seasons with her mother using her senses of hearing, smell, taste, and touch to experience them. Playing in the snow, taking a spring stroll, walking on the beach, and playing in the fall leaves, she enjoys the sounds, smells, and textures all around her. While she never mentions being visually impaired, the story and illustrations imply that, but it doesn’t slow her down from experiencing each season to the fullest.
I have a blind student who started kindergarten this year, which makes me extra appreciative of this book, not only for her, but for her classmates who can learn about perceiving the world through other senses. The simple illustrations do a great job of portraying the different seasons while leaving a great deal to the imagination, which will be inspired by the descriptions in the text.
An email alerting me to the upcoming Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards ceremony coming up this Thursday, November 6, sent me on a search for some of the books that I hadn’t read yet. You can see a complete list of winners and honor books here.
Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming (Anne Schwartz Books, 368 pages, grades 7 and up). Most of us know about Jonestown and the tragic end that befell more than 900 residents in the Guyana jungle. This book takes readers back to founder Jim Jones’s earliest days and shows how a bizarre mix of idealism and quest for power led him to start the People’s Temple which moved from Indiana to California, and finally to Guyana where Jones basically kept his followers imprisoned: cut off from the world and subject to his paranoid drug-fueled ravings. Individual members of the group are profiled, based on Fleming’s interviews with survivors, and their memories of enjoying being part of a warm community mixed with traumatic punishments, sleep deprivation, and overwork serve as a warning to anyone drawn to a charismatic leader like Jim Jones. Includes source notes, a bibliography, and an index.
I remember reading about this incident in the news during my own teenage years and trying to make sense of what could have possibly gone so horribly wrong. This book answers some of those question–although many are unanswerable–and is told in such a compelling style that I could not put this book down and read it in about 36 hours. It’s an especially important book for teens, as many of those interviewed were their age during the events of the story (including Jones’s son Stephan), and in many cases, a questioning attitude toward authority saved them.
Oasis by Guojing (Godwin Books, 160 pages, grades 4-7). Two children live in the desert, fending for themselves with only occasional phone calls from their mother who works in Oasis City, trying to get permission to bring her children to live with her. When the kids find a broken robot, they’re able to repair it and activate its “mother” mode, giving them an AI mom. When their human mother comes home for a few days, she discovers the AI mother, and destroys it in a fit of fear and rage. Her daughter runs off, and the mother is able to repair the robot and bring the daughter back home. The two mothers share their hopes and dreams for the children, and the AI one shows how she has been able to reproduce conditions in Oasis City to start growing plants, giving them hope that one day they can all live in the desert together. The author information relates that Guojing was inspired by “left-behind children” in China, who stay in rural areas when their parents go to find work in the city.
I had gotten this book out of the library several months ago, after seeing its five starred reviews, but I was a little put off by the dark artwork and never got around to reading it. I’m so glad I gave it another try. It’s a quick read–it only took me about 15 minutes–but it packs a powerful punch and celebrates all sorts of family connections and love. The cover says, “In a bleak and distant future, two children are lost, one robot is found, and a tendril of hope appears,” but it didn’t seem like such a distant future to me.
Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu (Clarion Books, 48 pages, grades 2-5). As a child, Junko Tabei dreamed of climbing mountains, and she pursued that dream when she moved to Tokyo as a young woman. Most mountaineering clubs didn’t take women, but Junko persevered until she found one that did. Even after marrying and having a daughter, Junko continued to climb and to encourage other women to join her. Eventually they planned an expedition to become the first all-female team to climb Mount Everest. Even an avalanche couldn’t stop her, and Junko realized her dream of being the first woman to reach Everest’s summit. In her later years, she became an activist for sustainable mountain climbing, researching the impact of trash and human waste on Everest and helping to mitigate some of those effects. Includes an author’s note, timeline, glossary, and bibliography.
I’m a little late to this 2024 book, but I’m breaking my rule of only reviewing books published in the current year. The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award follows the school year calendar, so it was eligible for this year’s award and was an honor book, in addition to winning a 2025 Caldecott Honor. Both are well-deserved for the beautiful ink and color illustrations that not only portray breathtaking mountain landscapes but celebrate Junko’s Japanese culture.
Words Apart by Aimee Lucido, illustrated by Phillippa and Rachael Corcutt (Versify, 394 pages, grades 4-7). Olive is the younger sister who shares a love of words with her linguist dad. Maddie is the older sister, an artist who struggles in school. Since Maddie repeated kindergarten, the two girls are in the same grade. Maddie, who experienced bullying in her younger days, keeps to herself and encourages Olive to do the same. So when Olive gets a crush on a boy and starts working with him on the school paper, Maddie is jealous. On the home front, their dad has taken a job that requires him to live away from home during the week. When he returns on weekends, Maddie begins to suspect that he’s hiding a secret. All of the stresses come together, and the sisters end up hurting each other deeply. When their parents give them some difficult news, they must find a way to repair their relationship even if it will never be the same as it was.
Told in alternating voices, with Olive’s written in verse and Maddie’s in comics, this book took a much more serious turn than I was expecting, given the cover and the format. It deals with a lot of tough issues in a very relatable way. Don’t be put off by the page count, the comics and verse writing make it a pretty quick read.
Kindred Dragons by Sarah Mesinga (Harry N. Abrams, 208 pages, grades 4-8). Imagine if Anne of Green Gables were named Alice, her parents were still alive (but traveling with a theater company, hence her stay at Green Gables), and some of the other girls and women in the community were “kindreds,” entrusted by the fairies to take care of a dragon in a way that makes their lives dependent upon each other. Alice longs to be a kindred, but so far she hasn’t received an egg, although many of her friends have. When she encounters a dragon named Brim whose kindred–an elderly woman with a reputation for being a witch–is missing, she is determined to help him reunite with Miss Gilroy. Her advocacy for the two of them lands her in big trouble with her grandmother, but eventually Alice prevails. Although the reunion between Brim and Miss Gilroy ends with heartbreak, it results in a deeper bond between Alice and her grandmother and the revelation of Alice’s unique magical powers.
Even those unfamiliar with Anne of Green Gables will love this imaginative tale that celebrates both individuality and community and weaves an enchanting tale that combines magic with everyday life. The art is gorgeous, particularly the aerial views that showcase both the dragons and the Prince Edward Island scenery.
This Is Orange: A Field Trip Through Color by Rachel Poliquin, illustrated by Julie Morstad (Candlewick, 48 pages, grades K-4). Which do you think came first, the color orange or the fruit? If you guessed the color, as I did, you’re in for a surprise to kick off this book that traces the history of the color, then meanders through the worlds of art, science, nature, and history looking for examples of it. Birds’ feet are orange, and so are cantaloupe and mimolette cheese. A color called International Orange that shows up in murky skies or seas is used for astronauts’ suits and the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll find orange in Halloween jack-o-lanterns, Buddhist monks’ robes (from orange turmeric), and a number of countries’ flags. “Now it is time for you to find orange in your world,” the book concludes. “If you look carefully, you will see orange almost everywhere.”
Although the tone is lighter, this book reminded me of Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, in that both books wake readers up to colors so common that we take them for granted. This would be a great book for an art class, or just to sharpen observational skills. I was disappointed there was no back matter, but the last page does a great job of sending readers off into the world with a new appreciation for the color orange.
The Polar Bear and the Ballerina by Eric Velasquez (Holiday House, 48 pages, ages 4-8). A young ballerina and a polar bear bond at an aquarium in this wordless book. After the girl leaves with her mom, the bear notices that she’s left her long red scarf behind. Hoisting himself out of his tank, he walks across Manhattan to Lincoln Center, where he’s met with a “No polar bears allowed!” sign at the ticket window. His growl alerts the girl, who leaves the practice room to escort him inside to a seat. Despite disgruntled looks from his neighbors, the bear is enraptured by the show. Afterwards, he returns the scarf, then dances home, where he dreams about performing on stage with the girl. Endpapers give profiles of both the bear and the girl, a soloist at Harlem Children’s Ballet.
Kids will love the adorable polar bear and spunky ballerina in the gorgeous illustrations, and adults can use their story to facilitate conversations about making the arts accessible to everyone. For a moment, I thought ballerina Chloe Maldonado was a real girl, but then I realized the ballets listed on her resume are both books by Eric Velazquez! Those endpapers add some fun and depth to the story, though.
Moon Song by Michaela Goade (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). In this companion to Berry Song, the Tlingit family that gathered berries in the summer enjoys winter on their island. After scouting for deer and fishing for salmon in the dusky daytime, they gather for a cozy evening at home. The narrator helps her cousin overcome his fear of the dark by telling him a bedtime story about two children following the light of the moon. They walk through the dark forest, follow the edge of the sea, and finally come to a place where they see the magic of the aurora borealis, shown in a spectacular gatefold illustration. The last page shows the two cousins back home, settling in to go to sleep. Includes a note from the author about winters in her Tlingit community and some of her thoughts about winter, darkness, and light that inspired this book.
As always, Michaela Goade weaves together a lyrical story that includes Tlingit words and beautiful illustrations, just right for celebrating the winter. Definitely worth some Caldecott consideration.
Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather M. O’Connor, illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Candlewick, 32 pages, ages 4-8). The two children narrating the story are too excited to sleep, so Nookomis (Grandmother) tells the story of the wild ponies tamed by the Ojibwe to help them with their work. In the summer, they set them free again to breed and roam the land. By the time Nookomis was born, though, there were only four ponies left, and all four were mares. A man from Minnesota named Fred Isham offered them a place to stay on his farm, and when Lac La Croix froze, the ponies were transported from Canada to the U.S., where they were bred, and a new herd started. On the night of the story, the whole family is waiting for six horses to be returned so they can start their own herd. Nookomis finishes her tale as the horses arrive, and the family goes out to welcome them. Includes an afterword with additional information about the Ojibwe horses.
A fascinating story told with beautiful illustrations that capture the colors and lights of the different seasons. Anyone interested in horses or Indigenous North American history will want to take a look at this book.
To Activate Space Portal, Lift Here by Antoinette Portis (Neal Porter Books, 56 pages, ages 4-8). Opening the front cover of the book takes readers immediately to a space portal that is opening up to reveal two aliens. Or are we the aliens? That’s the perspective of the creatures who make contact with humans, checking out their teeth to assure themselves they’re safe, exchanging information about planets, and introducing readers to a colorful assortment of their fellow creatures. As the “Power” and “Auto translate” buttons on the bottom go from green to yellow to red, the portal shuts down, and the final pages are black.
This would be a fun, interactive addition to storytime, with the audience being instructed to show their teeth and make a couple of faces to communicate with the aliens. It’s a little gimmicky, but kids are sure to get a kick out of it.
The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers (Gecko Press, 36 pages, ages 4-8). A group of birds go for a swim in the lake, but Eric the mallard duck is nervous about running into the monster. “That’s just a story, Eric. There’s no monster in the lake. Just boring old fish and frogs,” his friends assure him. Readers get an underwater view, showing those fish and frogs being chased by a monster. Eric sticks his head in the water and sees it too, but his friends refuse to believe him and keep swimming. As they continue on their way, Eric and the other undersea animals have a party with the monster, culminating with a colorful gatefold illustration of a whole monster neighborhood. When the birds realize Eric has disappeared, they’re afraid there really might be a monster that got Eric, but he emerges on the last page with a kind of ambiguous ending.
This Belgian import features plenty of colorful monster illustrations and lots of humor that will make kids feel like they’re outsmarting the clueless birds. The ending left me scratching my head a bit, but I think kids will enjoy the other elements enough not to really care.
The House That Floated by Guojing (Random House Studio, 40 pages, ages 4-8). A couple lives in a small house perched on the edge of a cliff. Wordless pages show them enjoying their home and the sea below, rescuing a dolphin from a net, then commemorating the moment with a wood carving of the dolphin. They welcome a new baby into their loving home, and the child grows up to love the ocean and dolphins as well. When a storm threatens their home, the resourceful family builds a raft, takes the house off its foundation, and carries it to another cliff across the water. Others in the community help them reassemble it next to a lighthouse, and the final pages show them running toward their new home.
Kids generally love wordless books, and they tend to find a lot of details my old eyes miss, so I look forward to sharing this beautiful and heartwarming story. I liked the message about resilience in the face of change, particularly climate change. I was hoping this would be a Caldecott contender, but it looks as though Guojing lives in Canada.
The Riding Lesson by Jennifer K. Mann (Candlewick, 56 pages, ages 4-8). Frances is excited to be going over to her friend Mae’s house for her first riding lesson. Although she’s sure she’s going to love riding–after all, she plays with toy horses all the time–that confidence vanishes when she’s confronted with a real horse named Snowball. Mae takes her through the steps of grooming and tacking up, but when it comes time to ride, Frances loses her nerve. Fortunately, Mae is a patient teacher, and after letting Frances ride double with her, Frances is ready to go it alone. Success! When they get back to the barn, the girls untack Snowball and give her a bath, then Frances gets a lesson in mucking out the horse stalls. All too soon, her mom is there to pick her up, and Frances can hardly wait until her next lesson.
I was delighted to see this book by the creator of The Camping Trip, one of my favorite end-of-the-year read-alouds. Like that book, this one captures both the excitement and fears that come with trying something new. Both narrators have an experienced peer to guide them through and to discover the joys of camping and horseback riding. The story and illustrations serve as a good introduction that will help any budding equestrian before a first lesson.
Piccolo by Dan Yaccarino (Christy Ottaviano Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Piccolo the shrew gives readers a taste of Italian culture while offering a few lessons in being a good friend. After making a list of where he wants to go in the citàbella (beautiful city), he sets out for the gelateria for some hazelnut gelato. Before he can take a first bite, he hears a cry for help, and dashes off to find his friend Mr. Rosso struggling to carry a painting into the museum. Fortunately, the museum is also on Piccolo’s list of destinations. The rest of the day goes that way, with Piccolo’s helpfulness leading him to enjoy the various places on the list. Alas, his day is so busy that by the time he’s ready to finish his hazelnut gelato, the gelateria has closed. Fortunately, his friend Miss Dolce needs some “help” finishing off her extra, and Piccolo’s day is complete. The end papers show the Italian phrases used in the story with English translations.
Aww, Piccolo and his friends are super cute and teach us all a good lesson about kindness and friendship! The Italian culture and language lessons are an added bonus. This would make a good introduction to young kids going to Italy for the first time.
How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares (Anne Schwartz Books, 240 pages, grades 4-8). Daniel Miyares tells the story of his father, Carlos, a young boy living in the Cuban countryside in 1956. When his father wins the lottery, he decides to pursue his dream of opening a furniture store, moving the family to the big city. Carlos is heartbroken to leave his friends and grandparents, but things take a darker turn as the political landscape in Cuba changes dramatically. The beginning of each chapter shows Castro’s slow rise to power, as he gathers enough supporters to overthrow Batista and takes over the country. Carlos’s parents aren’t particularly political, but that doesn’t protect them from the state taking his dad’s business. Carlos secretly watches Papi and some other men work every night building a boat, and shortly after that, his dad disappears. When life gets more dangerous in the city, the family returns to their grandparents’ farm, where Papi reunites with them and tells them they’re going to America. Carlos is heartbroken all over again, but his father convinces him it’s their only chance for a better life. After a dangerous nighttime journey, they arrive in Florida, ready to begin that life. Includes a four-page author’s note with additional information about Carlos and how his son Daniel came to write this book, along with several photos.
I was surprised to learn that Daniel Miyares has never won a Caldecott, and this graphic novel could easily remedy that situation–or win him a Newbery. The story and gorgeous artwork capture both the beauty of Cuba and the tension, confusion, and danger of the early days of Fidel Castro’s regime. The last part of the book, covering the family’s escape is both suspenseful and moving, and readers familiar with today’s immigration situation will be surprised at the welcome the Cubans get from the American military.
The Experiment by Rebecca Stead (Feiwel and Friends, 288 pages, grades 4-7). Despite his normal New York City upbringing, Nathan has always know that he’s different from other kids. He brushes his teeth five times a day with special pink toothpaste, his mother carefully records every calorie he eats, and…he and his family are aliens. Known as the Kast, his parents have raised Daniel on tales of how they traveled from their home planet as children to begin an experiment living on Earth. Nathan meets each month on Zoom with other Kast children, and he’s begun secretly texting one of them, a girl named Izzy. But recently a few of the kids, including Izzy, haven’t been on the calls, and when Nathan discovers that he’s growing a tail, he suspects he’ll be the next to disappear. He’s not wrong, and he and his parents are summoned to the mother ship, which sits in a parking lot outside a Pennsylvania mall, disguised as a storage container. As Nathan learns more about the ship and his parents’ past, he begins to suspect that it’s all a deception, and that he and the others might be human after all.
This science fiction story is hard to put down once you get through the first few chapters, and the last half has plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. It reminded me a little bit of a Margaret Peterson Haddix story and would make a great introduction to the sci-fi genre.
Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell (Tundra Books, 88 pages, grades K-4). Obviously, Cabin Head is a creature with a cabin on his head, complete with a family inside and smoke coming out of the chimney, and Tree Head likewise has a tree on his (aww, look at the kid in the tire swing!). They’re best friends who also enjoy hanging out with other members of their community like Library Head, Pool Head, Volcano Head, and Outhouse Head. In a series of stories, they show that they may not be the brightest lightbulb heads in the chandelier head, but they are loyal friends and funny storytellers. Readers will cheer at the declaration on the final page: “Cabin Head and Tree Head shall return for more wonderful book times.”
Around page 11, I paused to consider: is this the weirdest book I have ever read? I mean, we do have the Noodleheads, not to mention a hit series based on the premise of a dog’s head being attached to a man’s body. But Cabin Head and Tree Head are definitely in the running for weirdest, but also for funniest, and I found myself laughing aloud throughout the book, particularly at the illustrations. I predict great things for these two, so be sure to stock up and keep an eagle eye out for book 2.
Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen (Andrews McMeel, 208 pages, grades 1-4). Beans is an adorable cat detective who sets out to solve the case of the mystery note giver when he finds a series of encouraging notes stuck to his stuff. He’s derailed from this case almost immediately, though, when his lucky detective hat goes missing. Beans spends the day traveling around town, tracking down clues, generally just one step behind the hat as it’s passed from one owner to the next. He finally gets it back, and in the process accidentally catches a wanted diamond thief. The last few pages remind the reader that the mystery note giver still hasn’t been identified, but perhaps this mystery is unraveled in book 2, which came out earlier this year.
This is actually a 2024 book, but I was unable to resist the cute cover, and the rest of the book did not disappoint. Kids will love the artwork, and the story is simple yet engaging enough to hook those who are just starting to read independently.
Detective Stanley and the Mystery Museum by Hannah Tunnicliffe, illustrated by Erica Harrison (Flying Eye Books, 64 pages, grades 1-4). Detective Stanley is enjoying his first morning of retirement from the Narlybone Criminal Investigation Department when a letter arrives at his doorstep begging him to come to the Narlybone Museum and figure out who’s behind the break-in there. Unable to resist a heartfelt plea–despite having to leave his pancakes behind–Stanley heads to the museum, where he finds a big mess but no stolen items. When he’s framed for the theft of a police officer’s watch, Stanley unexpectedly winds up in jail. From his cell, he’s able to puzzle out what really happened at the museum and convince a police officer to accompany him back to the scene of the crime. There, he unmasks the real thief in dramatic fashion and is able to return to his pancakes in time for supper. Includes information on Piet Mondrian, whose artwork is featured in the story, as well as a preview of book 2.
Another fun mystery for early readers, this one had a surprising number of twists for such a short story, some sly humor, and artwork full of cute animals that brought to mind Richard Scarry’s work as they go about their day.
If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). At the end of a birthday party, two kids make plans from underneath a table. The more outgoing one decides they’ll be dogs, and a series of imaginative escapades follows, with the bigger dog taking the lead. Whether it’s doing tricks, digging holes, or racing to the dog park, the bigger dog is completely happy, while the little one looks a bit less certain. Finally, the little dog speaks up: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” If readers have been paying close attention, they won’t be surprised by what that idea is, and the two animals play happily together in the final pages.
In this follow up to If I Was a Horse, Sophie Blackall celebrates the power of imaginary play and the importance of speaking up to make your own ideas heard. It’s not much of a story, but the illustrations are adorable, and the message for younger siblings or quieter friends is a valuable one.
Cat Nap by Brian Lies (Greenwillow Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). When a cat’s nap is disturbed by a mouse, he follows it through a poster advertising an exhibit of Egyptian antiquities at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When he leaps through the poster, he’s in the panel from an ancient Egyptian tomb. The mouse leads him from one work of art to the next, including portraits, statues, and an illuminated manuscript. The lure of dinnertime leads him back where he started, and the Egyptians open a door that takes him back home, where he enjoys some food in a dish decorated with hieroglyphics. Includes an author’s note about the joys of creating art, with ten photos showing his process in making this book; also the artworks referenced in the book, with thumbnail descriptions of each.
Put this at the top of your list of Caldecott contenders. Each illustration is a marvel, based on a real work of art, and is made even more so by reading Brian Lies’ description of his painstaking recreations of each one. I loved how he celebrates making art with your own hands, as opposed to digitally or with artificial intelligence.
A Kids Book A Day 